“A gift,” Caspian said quietly, and she glanced between him andthe velvet box.
The servant opened it, and Elizabeth’s jaw fell open.
Nestled in the velvet box were not dark gems like the ones often favoured here, but the most beautiful pale blue gems she had ever seen—a blue so pale, they looked like sparkling drops of ice. There was a necklace of blue gems, ringed with diamonds, and two matching eardrops.
They were fit for a queen and matched her colouring and dress perfectly.
“Are you pleased?” he asked her. His expression was wooden, but he leaned forward as if the answer was important.
“Yes! Of course. That’s very kind of you, thank you. But may I ask … why the gift?”
His eyes crinkled in amusement. “Is it not … your birthday?”
She swallowed, surprised he had sought out this information, or deemed it important. “It is.”
“Then birthday blessings to you,” he raised his glass in a toast to her, smiling. His teeth were tinged red, the only imperfection to his beautiful face. A subtle reminder of what he was.
Words failed her as Caspian took a sip out of his goblet, set it down, and rose to help her put on the necklace. His hands made quick work of the clasp, and his fingers brushed her collarbone as he withdrew.
She fixed the eardrops onto her lobes and touched the sparkling gems at her throat. “I love them. Thank you again.”
Caspian surveyed her intently as he said, “I notice you do not like the dark colours favoured in Arboras.”
She hesitated, not wanting to offend him.
He waited, unflinching and unsurprised. For once, she decided on blunt honesty. “I find them depressing. I like to feel more … pretty and lighthearted.”
“Then wear whatever you like,” he said simply.
Elizabeth frowned, wondering why he had tasked Fiza to dress her in this particular gown tonight. She fiddled with the beading on the bodice and waited for him to say something, but he only nodded at the servants.
An elaborate meal of venison steak and steamed potatoes and vegetables was placed before her. As he had done once before, Caspian had a plate set in front of him as well with what looked like barely cooked steak, a single, small potato, and a garnish. He cut the meat lightly and pushed the garnish around on his plate. They ate in silence, but it was a comfortable one.
The sounds of a violin and piano began to play delicately in the background.
She glanced up. “There’s music playing,” she breathed.
It was beautiful. She turned and saw several musicians playing in the corner.
He grinned, a wide smile that showed his teeth. “Yes, apparently demons can’t play musicfor shit—I had to outsource.”
“You surprise me,” she said, her face nearly hurting from smiling so much. “Tell me, where did those stones come from? I’ve never seen their like. I’ve never even read about them.”
Caspian tilted his head, his expression amused. “Oh, I’m glad you asked. They’re called ice diamonds. They are only mined in the furthest reaches of the Winterlands and extremely dangerous to get to.”
“Why are they so dangerous?” she asked curiously, leaning forward in her seat.
She fiddled with the largest pendant in her fingers. It was a beautiful gemstone, but it didn’t look any more dangerous to mine than any other stone would be.
“Because they are only found in the deepest ice caves. Hundreds of leagues into the caves and deep underground. Many miners have died trying to find them.”
“Have you been in one? An ice cave?”
“I’ve been in one when it caved in, actually. If I weren’t skilled at magic, I wouldn’t have survived.”
She smiled warmly, propping her chin on her hand. “What did you do?”
“I blasted away the larger chunks of ice and enveloped my body in a shield so it wouldn't be crushed by the debris raining down.”
